ACCUPLACER

Accommodation Requests

Steps for Requesting ACCUPLACER Accommodations

Following their acceptance for admission to the Community College of Rhode Island
(CCRI), all new students are contacted to schedule mandatory placement tests in writing, reading and math
before they may register for classes.

The ACCUPLACER Placement Test does not affect your admission to the college. The results
simply help to place you in the appropriate courses. It is critical that you do your
best on the ACCUPLACER assessment as your scores are used to determine your first
semester classes. Please note that should your scores result in the need to take developmental
or prerequisite classes in your first semester, your graduation from and/or transfer
to four-year colleges or universities of interest may be delayed.

If you are requesting accommodations, your request must be reviewed and approved by
CCRI’s Disability Services for Students office before your test can be scheduled.

STEP 1: Review information about the test content and format.

It is helpful to review the format and content of the ACCUPLACER test before making
your accommodation request. Please review information about the test content and format
below. Please note that the only timed section of the ACCUPLACER test is the written essay
section.

Type of Test

The ACCUPLACER consists of four parts. The first part of the test requires you to type an essay
on the computer. Upon completion of the essay, you will continue to use a computer
for the remaining three parts of the ACCUPLACER Assessment. The computerized tests
are multiple choice and cover the areas of reading comprehension, mathematics, and sentence skills.

Written Essay

You will be given 45 minutes for the written portion of the placement test, and you will have several topics to which to respond in the form of a 5 paragraph
essay.

Sentence Skills Test

There are two kinds of questions given in the Sentence Skills test: Sentence correction
questions ask you to choose a word or a phrase to substitute for an underlined portion
of a sentence; Construction shift questions ask that a sentence be rewritten in a
specific way without changing the meaning. This test has 20 questions.

Reading Comprehension Test

This test measures your analytical and comprehensive reading skills and your ability
to effectively apply what you have read. This test consists of 20 questions.

Elementary Algebra Test

College Algebra Test

Depending on your score in the Elementary Algebra Test, you may be required to complete
the College Algebra Test. This test measures your ability to perform college-level
algebraic operations and to solve problems that involve college-level algebraic concepts.
This test contains 20 questions.

Computerized–Adaptive Testing

ACCUPLACER is an adaptive test. This means that the computer automatically determines
which questions are presented to you based on your response to prior questions. This
technique selects just the right questions for your level of ability. Each test is
un-timed so that you can give each question as much thought as you wish. However,
once you have selected and confirmed your answer, you cannot return to that question.
The greater your demonstrated skill, the more challenging the questions will become.

Testing Time

You are given 45 minutes to complete the written essay. The computerized reading, sentence skills, math and computer skills tests are un-timed.

Use of Calculator with Online Tests

Some of the mathematics items within ACCUPLACER have pop-up calculators for students
to use when answering some of the math questions. The items were written so that the
use of a calculator will not help the student answer the question, but is provided
simply as a tool for the student to use. For example, if a student is asked to calculate
the area of a rectangle, she or he must know the formula (length times width) for calculating the area. The calculator is available in this case as a tool
for multiplying the length times the width; it will not help the student who does
not know the formula. Calculators are not available for all items. For example, if
a student is asked to estimate the value of 9.755 times 5.688, the calculator is not
available, because the question is asking students to round 9.755 to 10, and 5.688
to 6, and then multiply 10 times 6 in their heads. Since the use of the calculator
would help the student answer this type of question, the calculator is not available.

Testing Regulations

Textbooks, protractors, notebooks, dictionaries or other papers of any kind (with
the exception of scratch paper provided by the Test Administrator) will not be allowed
in the testing room. Additionally, anyone who gives or receives help during the test,
or uses notes, books or hand-held calculators of any kind will not be allowed to continue
the test.

STEP 2: Determine your accommodations.

Please review the list of available accommodations below and determine the accommodations
you need.

Extended Testing Time

Please note that only the written essay section of the ACCUPLACER is timed.